Rockets Expected to Decline Option on Fred VanVleet: Report

Every fan base has the whipping boy(s) and he had a down shooting season (after one of the best 3pt shooting seasons in his first year here). Plus many posters viewed him as taking minutes and development from Reed and Cam and we had to overpay to get him here.

Feels like we are going to extend him, just hopefully it won't be for too much.

 

It almost always comes down to money factoring in. If a player is getting paid a lot, they naturally get 5 times more scrutiny.

FVV at $40+ mil: "This guy is mid, looking washed, why do we keep treating him like he's John Stockton? We can do better (with that money)"

FVV at $15-25 mil: Steady veteran presence, not great but decent for what he is

 

They really gave FVV more than kyrie,Holiday, and others

 

I guarantee if his believes in himself again, he won’t be stepping on the court for anyone else at 3/120. He’s not worth that, not even for us at this point.

 

such an important point. I don’t think anyone genuinely dislikes Fred. I was his biggest fan 2 yrs ago. He was our best player that 23/24’ season. But the fact that he shot 37% from the field and genuinely looked washed last season while making max money was extremely disappointing. I certainly wasn’t expecting Fred to outperform his contract, but that steep drop off is troubling. Given his age and that he’s only played 70 games once in the last 7 yrs, I think it’s justifiable to be concerned about overpaying Fred on a 2nd contract. To me he’s a $25 mil player. I don’t mind paying more for a short deal, but I wouldn’t feel good about giving him 3 years fully guaranteed at any higher salary. Ideally we are looking at a 3yr deal with that 3rd yr as a team option.

 

Question for @BimaThug

if we decline the options of Landale and Holiday and Nate Williams’ non-guaranteed contract, can we pick up Fred Van Vleet’s team option without going into the 2nd Apron?

 

Not Bima, but the Rockets have $2M under 2A now. Cutting Landale and Holiday would be enough to fill out roster and stay under 2A.

 

and that includes the player option for Fred?

 

Team option, yes.

Considering the Rockets stayed under the 1st apron hard cap in the Durant trade based on a few hundred thousand dollars based on a Brooks incentive being likely with the Rockets and unlikely with the Suns, I think it is very doubtful the Rockets exercise FVV's team option to keep him as the Rockets would remain over the 1st apron.

 

so it sounds like Fred has some real leverage in trying to negotiate a rich multi-year contract, which is what I was afraid of.

 

He's always had that as the Rockets are over the cap such that they have limited options to replace him, but have early Bird Rights to him. The Rockets aren't going over the first apron for FVV, but also are unlikely to hard cap themselves at the 1st apron by using the NT-MLE on a PG unless they have to do it. The Rockets have leverage of few teams with cap space.

Most veteran NBA contracts (for starters) don't go to free agency, but teams and players generally follow free agent pricing (other than RFA) as each side typically has leverage. Also, a team doesn't want to get a reputation as playing hardball as players won't want to come to that team if they know the team will go to the mattresses against them if the team gets leverage. Morey plays hardball, but Stone so far has worked to try to promote a player friendly environment.

 

When you don’t finish bottom 3 in multiple seasons, you don’t have to overpay.

 

Yes (although keeping Nate Williams actually helps ever-so-slightly against the tax/aprons versus a random vet minimum guy). But I don't think the Rockets want to pay major luxury tax in 2025-26 for this exact roster with only vet min additions.

 

Good thing we dont have to wait too long on this decision. Thank you deadlines.

 

it’s good to be player friendly but you don’t want to get caught giving out a Jru Holiday contract. I’m still shocked the Celtics didn’t have to attach an asset to get off that contract

Fred just made $90 mil in 2 years and he was a below average point guard last season. At age 31 with his injury history it’s not a good sign. Fred is not worth $30 mil anymore and if he is going to play hardball we should meet him on the battlefield. Hope we have a plan B. We’ll regret overpaying Fred on a new contract.

 

First, I agree with you.

Second, I look at it from the perspective of commodifying Fred's contract. It could become a $30M contract to be used in a trade. That makes it somewhat of an asset.

Like I said in this thread (IIRC) and others, I would be fine giving FVV a contract at $30M+ per season IF (HUGE IF) it has team options on each year. Because that type of contract could then really be an asset. Not sure Klutch / Rich Paul goes for that. But that is something I think Stone is going to have to fight for. (Or maybe even partial guarantees as opposed to team options.)

 

I'd love to read about your ideal summer for the Rockets. I know you'll have a podcast with Clutch soon, but would love to get your thoughts on how you believe the Rockets will proceed this summer and what sort of contract FVV may be looking at.

 

I would not say FVV was below average. Below average scoring efficiency, but three point shooting was average to good most of the year (outside two horrendous slumps early), defense is still well above average (more offball than POA), and he controls the offense keeping turnovers down. There is a reason the Rockets played well with him, but not others at PG. He is average or better at most things needed for a PG with rim pressure being his only real weakness.

FVV stacks up well with guys getting paid $26M to 34M. The $30M doesn't really matter too much as long as Rockets will stay below first apron to sign him. If/when he signs, look at the 3rd year. That is when paying FVV is going to cause complications with retaining other players. If FVV gets $25M or $30M in his first 2 seasons, it likely doesn't matter to the Rockets. I expect FVV will get a FVV friendly number in year 1 and the Rockets get something team friendly in year 3.

 

So, who’s our backup plan for the starting PG position?

 

He’s worth about $15 million a year and that’s being generous. He’s not a starting caliber pg anymore.

No other teams want him, so there’s no reason to overpay him.